But a diverse group of pastors and churches in Greater Kansas City believes there is hope.Hope Lives is a racial reconciliation movement, with its next event at Liberty Memorial on Sunday, June 7, at 6 p.m. It will highlight the power of faith-based racial healing and unity. Churches from across the city will gather for prayer, worship and to forge stronger partnerships.

“We are gathering not as individual churches in specific neighborhoods, but as one church,” said Gregory Ealey, pastor of Paseo Baptist Church in Kansas City. “We will stand together to demonstrate that the church of God is here to bring healing.

“I’m excited to see black churches and white churches, suburban and urban churches – diverse races and cultures – coming together to demonstrate the power of Jesus Christ to bring people together.”

This is the second Hope Lives event. In January, several hundred people from churches across Kansas City met at Liberty Memorial for prayer following outbreaks of violence in Ferguson and New York City.

“That was a historic event, bringing people from diverse neighborhoods and churches together to seek unity in Jesus’ name,” said Pastor Phil Hopper of Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit. “My hope is that we’re just getting started. Our elected officials are doing their best to address the symptoms of the conflict, but only God can change the heart.”

Hope Lives is part of the ministry of Elevate KC, a non-denominational Christian movement committed to the causes of racial healing, education, fatherlessness and human trafficking. Learn more at www.elevatekc.org.